Zimbabwe childrens games of the 90s - Fish Fish
This is a variation of Double Dutch with only one rope in use. Two people will turn the rope while one is jumping in the middle. Fish Fish is often accompanied by singing to help the players stay in rhythm.
Objective
The person jumping needs to perform some tricks before negotiating their way out from under the turning rope without touching rope.
How to Play
The two people turning the rope [P] will start swinging the rope whilst another player [C] negotiates their way into the middle. The two rope swingers start singing 'Fish Fish' whose rhythm instructs the middle player on which tricks to perform while jumping until they complete the cycle and are instructed to go away. The song goes thus, 'Fish Fish spell your name, F-I-S-H. Fish Fish, Touch the Ground and Point to the Sky and turn around and go away’.
Penalties
The middle player is eliminated if they touch the rope while jumping. The game starts with two players at opposite ends swinging the rope whilst counting the beats. If no-one jumps in after a certain number of beats then that person is eliminated by way of a jeer 'Go away' after which the game starts with another countdown. If one fails to exit, they are eliminated. After each successful exit the people turning the rope speed up the rotations until all are eliminated and then swap places.
